Rules are written down for a reason, but some aren’t. Sometimes it takes some common sense to figure out what’s right or wrong on the field.
Don't bunt to break up a no-hitter: Just one of baseball's unwritten rules
We have heard them all our lives, often drilled into us, repeatedly, like some sort of gospel.
- Don’t bunt to break up a no-hitter.
- Don’t step on the pitcher’s mound when you are running out to take the field.
- Don’t step on the lines when you are taking the field or leaving it.
- Don’t steal or swing at a 3-0 pitch if you are up by more than X number of runs.
- Don’t admire a home run that you hit, or strut around the bases.
- Don’t help an opponent.
- Don’t speak to a pitcher who is in the middle of a no-hitter.
...and many many others.
Guardians were pissed at the Dbacks after they tried to bunt and end Gavin Williams' perfect game
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 2, 2026
The benches ended up clearing in the pouring rain as the grounds crew tried to get the tarp on the field pic.twitter.com/Yn27HaqCnS
Rules are written down for a reason, but Tim Tawa of the Diamondbacks didn’t seem to know the first one of our list above. He tried to bunt to break up the Guradians’ Gavin Williams’ perfect game and all hell broke loose. Some fans disagree, but in old-school baseball it’s a bad look.
Too often we see players breaking those unwritten rules and we all know what happens when someone does that: A fastball to the ribs at their next at bat.
Bunting to break up a no-hitter. Stealing when you are up by several runs. These are, perhaps, bad manners. But the key is always in the situation. Was the bunt simply mean-spirited? Or was it a 1-0 game, when you absolutely need a baserunner?
There is a debate between “Let the Kids Play” and “show some respect.” Again, it’s a fine line because we all want to enjoy the show and that can be done without disrespecting the opponent.
The problem with admiring a homerun is: How long is too long? Sometimes players don’t know if the ball is going to leave the park, other times they’re just enjoying watching the ball go over the wall. Pitchers might not like that and the batters will be a target during their next at bat.
So, it can be tricky sometimes to know what is crossing the line and what isn’t as far as unwritten rules are concerned. The best advice would be to look up to your coaches and veterans on the team and learn from them and how they react to these situations.
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